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The Modern Scholar
- Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
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Should fantasy be considered serious literature, or is it merely escapism? In this course, the roots of fantasy and the works that have defined the genre are examined. Incisive analysis and a deft assessment of what makes these works so very special provides a deeper insight into beloved works and a better understanding of why fantasy is such a pervasive force in modern culture.
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Perfect Intro to the Anglo-Saxon Period
- By Julie on 01-01-10
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The Modern Scholar: Tolkien and the West
- Recovering the Lost Tradition of Europe
- By: Professor Michael Drout
- Narrated by: Michael Drout
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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The works of J.R.R. Tolkien are quite possibly the most widely read pieces of literature written in the 20th century. But as Professor Michael Drout illuminates in this engaging course of lectures, Tolkien's writings are built upon a centuries-old literary tradition that developed in Europe and is quite uniquely Western in its outlook and style. Drout explores how that tradition still resonates with us to this day, even if many Modernist critics would argue otherwise. He begins the course with the allegory of a tower....
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Not Drout's or Modern Scholar's Best
- By Amy on 01-28-13
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The Modern Scholar
- A Way With Words, Part II: Approaches to Literature
- By: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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In A Way with Words II: Approaches to Literature, Michael D.C. Drout leads a series of lectures that focus on the big questions of literature. Throughout, he introduces the major schools of literary and critical thought and employs illuminating examples from the world's most important literary works. This course proves a wonderful exploration of one of humankind's most cherished pursuits.
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That Bad
- By Alyssa B. Goss on 02-28-11
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The Modern Scholar
- Way with Words: Writing Rhetoric and the Art of Persuasion
- By: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Esteemed professor Michael D. C. Drout brings his expertise in literary studies to the subject of rhetoric. From history-altering political speeches to friendly debates at cocktail parties, rhetoric holds the power to change opinions, spark new thoughts, and ultimately change the world.
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A Very Unique Read...(J/K)
- By Jade on 06-10-09
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The Modern Scholar: The Norsemen - Understanding Vikings and Their Culture
- By: Professor Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
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Professor Michael D.C. Drout of Wheaton College immerses listeners in the extraordinary legacy of Viking civilization, which developed in what is now Scandinavia during the early Middle Ages. During the course of these lectures, Professor Drout explores how these peoples conquered all of Northern Europe, traveled as far as Byzantium in the East and North America in the West, and left a literary legacy that includes numerous works studied and enjoyed to this day.
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Best download in months!
- By Margaret on 12-23-12
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The Modern Scholar
- From Here to Infinity: An Exploration of Science Fiction Literature
- By: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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The best science fiction asks essential questions: What does it mean to be human? Are we alone in the universe, and what does it mean if we're not? Esteemed professor Michael D. C. Drout traces the history of science fiction in this series of stimulating lectures. From Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to today's cutting- edge authors, Drout offers a compelling analysis of the genre, including a look at the golden age of science fiction, New Wave writers, and contemporary trends in the field.
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Nerdy? Probably... Enjoyable? Yes
- By Timothy on 08-27-09
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The Modern Scholar: The Anglo-Saxon World
- By: Prof. Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Michael D. C. Drout
- Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
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Had the Angles and Saxons not purposefully migrated to the isles of the Britons and brought with them their already-well-developed use of language, Angelina Jolie may never have appeared in the movie Beowulf. Professor Michael D.C. Drout is at his best when lecturing on the fascinating history, language, and societal adaptations of the Anglo-Saxons.
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Perfect Intro to the Anglo-Saxon Period
- By Julie on 01-01-10
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The Modern Scholar: Tolkien and the West
- Recovering the Lost Tradition of Europe
- By: Professor Michael Drout
- Narrated by: Michael Drout
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The works of J.R.R. Tolkien are quite possibly the most widely read pieces of literature written in the 20th century. But as Professor Michael Drout illuminates in this engaging course of lectures, Tolkien's writings are built upon a centuries-old literary tradition that developed in Europe and is quite uniquely Western in its outlook and style. Drout explores how that tradition still resonates with us to this day, even if many Modernist critics would argue otherwise. He begins the course with the allegory of a tower....
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Not Drout's or Modern Scholar's Best
- By Amy on 01-28-13
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The Modern Scholar
- A Way With Words, Part II: Approaches to Literature
- By: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In A Way with Words II: Approaches to Literature, Michael D.C. Drout leads a series of lectures that focus on the big questions of literature. Throughout, he introduces the major schools of literary and critical thought and employs illuminating examples from the world's most important literary works. This course proves a wonderful exploration of one of humankind's most cherished pursuits.
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That Bad
- By Alyssa B. Goss on 02-28-11
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The Modern Scholar
- Way with Words: Writing Rhetoric and the Art of Persuasion
- By: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Esteemed professor Michael D. C. Drout brings his expertise in literary studies to the subject of rhetoric. From history-altering political speeches to friendly debates at cocktail parties, rhetoric holds the power to change opinions, spark new thoughts, and ultimately change the world.
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A Very Unique Read...(J/K)
- By Jade on 06-10-09
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The Modern Scholar: The Norsemen - Understanding Vikings and Their Culture
- By: Professor Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
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Professor Michael D.C. Drout of Wheaton College immerses listeners in the extraordinary legacy of Viking civilization, which developed in what is now Scandinavia during the early Middle Ages. During the course of these lectures, Professor Drout explores how these peoples conquered all of Northern Europe, traveled as far as Byzantium in the East and North America in the West, and left a literary legacy that includes numerous works studied and enjoyed to this day.
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Best download in months!
- By Margaret on 12-23-12
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The Modern Scholar
- A Way With Words Part III: Grammar for Adults
- By: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D.C. Drout
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Since others judge you by the way you speak, the intricacies of grammar, in fact, should not be relegated to the realm of fussy "guardians of the language," but are rather essential clues all can employ to communicate more exactly. In such a light, this course forms an invaluable guide for everyone from all fields of interest.
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I have always given Drout high marks.
- By Robert on 10-03-12
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A Way with Words IV
- Understanding Poetry
- By: Prof. Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Prof. Michael Drout
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In part IV of this fascinating series, Professor Drout submerses listeners in poetry's past, present, and future. Addressing such poetic luminaries as Milton,Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats, these lectures explain in simple terms what poetry is while following its development through the centuries.
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Get your facts straight
- By Louise L Hoelscher on 10-06-13
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The Modern Scholar
- A History of the English Language
- By: Prof. Michael Drout
- Narrated by: Prof. Michael Drout
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Professor Drout addresses the foundation of language and its connection to specific portions of the brain. The components of language are explained in easy-to-understand terms and the progression of the language from Germanic to Old, Middle, and Modern English is fully illustrated - including such revolutionary language upheavals as those brought about by the Norman Conquest and the Great Vowel Shift.
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Hits all the right marks
- By Maria on 11-02-10
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Modern Scholar: How to Think
- The Liberal Arts and Their Enduring Value
- By: Professor Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
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In How to Think: The Liberal Arts and Their Enduring Value, Professor Michael D. C. Drout gives an impassioned defense and celebration of the value of the liberal arts. Charting the evolution of the liberal arts from their roots in the educational system of Ancient Rome through the Middle Ages and to the present day, Drout shows how the liberal arts have consistently been "the tools to rule", essential to the education of the leaders of society. Offering a reasoned defense of their continuing value, Drout also provides suggestions for improving the state of the liberal arts in contemporary society.
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A defense of the Liberal Arts
- By Steve and/or Jodene on 10-19-13
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The Modern Scholar
- Dante and His Divine Comedy: The Modern Scholar
- By: Professor Timothy B. Shutt
- Narrated by: Professor Timothy B. Shutt
- Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Kenyon College professor Dr. Timothy B. Shutt examines Dante's greatest work, The Divine Comedy, both in terms of its autobiographical elements and its allegorical meaning for the human race.
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A Tour de Force on a Tour de Force
- By John on 05-19-14
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The Modern Scholar
- The History of Ancient Israel: From the Patriarchs Through the Romans
- By: Professor Eric H. Cline
- Narrated by: Eric H. Cline
- Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Israel conjures up myriad associations for peoples of all cultures and religious backgrounds. Inextricably associated with the world's three most prominent religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), Israel is steeped in history and conflict, much of which is known through the tales of biblical figures such as Moses, David, Solomon, and, of course, Jesus Christ.But how much of the Bible can be relied upon as accurate history? And how much of the biblical record can be verified through archaeology?
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Good But a Little Biased
- By Wolfpacker on 05-27-12
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The Modern Scholar
- Shakespeare: Ten Great Comedies
- By: Prof. Raphael Shargel
- Narrated by: Prof. Raphael Shargel
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Professor Raphael Shargel channels his passion for teaching and expertise as a Shakespearean scholar into this illuminative study of the Immortal Bard's 10 great comedies. Shakespeare's genius is as readily apparent in these comedies as in his timeless tragedies. Often marked by internal and external conflicts, young lovers struggling for union, mistaken identities, and intertwining plots, Shakespeare's comedies to this day reveal the master's unparalleled insight into the human condition.
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The Modern Scholar
- Shakespeare: The Seven Major Tragedies
- By: Professor Harold Bloom
- Narrated by: Professor Harold Bloom
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Shakespeare's seven great tragedies contain unmistakable elements that set them apart from any other plays ever written. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare embodied in the character of Juliet the world's most impressive representation ever of a woman in love. With Julius Caesar, the great playwright produced a drama of astonishing and perpetual relevance.
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Lowest WPM Ever
- By Ronald on 11-16-11
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The Modern Scholar: Singers and Tales
- Oral Tradition and the Roots of Literature
- By: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Narrated by: Professor Michael D. C. Drout
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
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In this course, Professor Michael D. C. Drout traces literature back to its ultimate sources in oral tradition. Drout shows us how works as varied as the Odyssey, Beowulf, the Finnish Kalevala, and epic songs from the former Yugoslavia were shaped by their origins as songs sung - and composed - before a live audience. Understanding the oral roots of these great works lets us see them in a whole new light.
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Interesting and insightful
- By Bee on 01-13-16
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The Modern Scholar: The Iliad and The Odyssey of Homer
- By: Professor Timothy B. Shutt
- Narrated by: Timothy B. Shutt
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
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One of the Modern Scholar’s most popular professors, Timothy B. Shutt, brings his literary acumen and trademark enthusiasm to the study of the epic poems that sit at the very wellspring of Western culture. The earliest surviving works of Greek literature, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey exert a continuing influence on modern culture, even today shaping people’s values and conduct. In the tales of Achilles and Hector, of Odysseus and Penelope, Homer explored the notion of arête, which translates as "excellence" or "virtue".
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Superb prof
- By customer on 01-22-24
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The Modern Scholar: Medieval Mysteries
- The History Behind the Myths of the Middle Ages
- By: Professor Thomas F. Madden
- Narrated by: Professor Thomas F. Madden
- Length: 4 hrs and 10 mins
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The Middle Ages is not only a period of Romance, but of legends, tales, and mysteries. In this course, Professor Thomas F. Madden guides listeners through the most famous and enduring narratives of medieval Europe. Beginning with King Arthur, Professor Madden peels back layers of exaggeration and fiction to lay bare the historical basis for the mythical king.
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Entertaining And Enlightening
- By Hellocat on 06-03-14
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The Modern Scholar
- Hebrews, Greeks and Romans: Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Timothy Shutt
- Narrated by: Timothy Shutt
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Our purpose in this course will be to examine the foundations of Western civilization in antiquity. We will look at the culture of the ancient Hebrews, of the ancient Greeks, and of the Romans, and we will likewise look at how these cultures interacted with each other, sometimes happily, sometimes not. In the process, we will focus on how the questions they addressed and the answers they found live among us and continue to shape our lives to this very day.
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Great, Thought Provokong Lectures
- By Wolfpacker on 06-04-10
By: Timothy Shutt
What listeners say about The Modern Scholar
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jefferson
- 09-27-11
An Informative, Stimulating, and Enjoyable Class
I enjoyed Professor Michael D. C. Drout's 14-lecture class on modern fantasy, which mainly focus on J. R. R. Tolkien, which is fine, because Tolkien is a major figure in modern fantasy. Professor Drout has a pleasing enthusiasm and a comprehensible clarity as he lectures.
After discussing the fantasy genre (a hybridization combining oral epics with novelistic techniques and concerns), Drout limns the origins of modern fantasy (Victorian works like the Alice books, The Waterbabies, and The Princess and the Goblin), and then dives into Tolkien, depicting relevant facts about his life and philological study before assessing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as difficult work like The Silmarillion and important scholarly essays on Beowulf and fantasy. Drout next covers two followers of Tolkien, Brooks the imitator and Donaldson the reactor, as well as two "worthy inheritors" who create fantasy as aesthetically and thematically consistent and compelling as that of Tolkien: Ursula K. Le Guin and Robert Holdstock. He then discusses children's fantasy (Narnia, The Dark is Rising, Prydain, and a bit of Rowling and Pullman) and then the Arthurian genre (T. H. White, Mary Stewart, and Marion Zimmer Bradley). He concludes with a chapter on magical realism (Borges and Garcia-Marquez), arguing that, unlike most modern fantasy, it denies rather than provides healthy escape and is oriented around tragedy rather than Tolkieniean eucatastrophe.
I like the many insights that Drout provides as he lectures, like about Le Guin's solution to death in The Other Wind or about class in The Hobbit or about the way in which Peter Jackson's movies make Tolkien's world smaller. Sure, I wish he'd have covered more authors (like L. Frank Baum, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, Robert E. Howard, Mervyn Peake, or Michael Swanwick) and to have gone into more detail in non-Tolkien chapters, but that only shows how much I enjoyed his "class" and wished it could have been twice as long.
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28 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Joseph Furlan
- 05-07-10
One of my very favorite Audibles ever!
I've been going through some family health crisis stuff lately and I find that's Drout's lectures are so fascinating they are the one thing that can completely take my mind off my problems. I started with his lecture on Anglo Saxon stuff and was delighted to find this one when I finished. I downloaded and saved it for a day I expected to get some bad news. Sure enough... it was bad but like magic this lecture kept my mind occupied for hours on end and left me in a good mood. I didn't realize there would be so much on The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings my two favorite books of all time. I've no interest whatever in poetry and writing but I'm thinking about getting those lectures too. The guy is just so enthusiastic about the material. What a treasure!
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14 people found this helpful
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- Margaret
- 05-05-12
A whole new appreciation
What made the experience of listening to The Modern Scholar the most enjoyable?
Prof Drout's enthusiasm shines through his lectures.
Any additional comments?
I got several new ideas of books to read that I've never considered before. And a better understanding of Tolkien and his work.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Gabrielle
- 06-28-16
Engaging voice, ,disappointing content
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
I expected a good, thorough overview of fantasy literature. Instead, the professor spent over half the class summarizing Tolkien's stories. I'm sorry, but even if I hadn't read Tolkien, I can get plot synopses on Wikipedia. I wanted more discussion of different types of fantasy, etc. The professor also showed a surprising ignorance of children's fantasy... he claimed that 1980-1995 was a desert for children's fantasy, ignoring important works by writers such as Jane Yolen, Robin McKinley, Diana Wynne Jones, Peter Dickinson, and Diana Duane.
What about the narrator’s performance did you like?
Michael Drout's manner and voice was engaging & easy to listen to. No complaints there.
What character would you cut from The Modern Scholar?
Much, MUCH less Tolkien summary, please! I love Tolkien as much as the next fantasy nerd, but... no, this class didn't need to consist mainly of retelling his stories.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Michael
- 07-06-13
Tolkien Tunnel Vision
Is there anything you would change about this book?
Professor Drout's breadth of knowledge for medieval literature is both obvious and rather impressive too. But whether that holds true for fantasy too is somewhat less certain here. His exhaustive focus on Tolkien monopolizes nearly all of this lecture series, and while Brooks, Le Guin and Donaldson are discussed, others are conspicuous by their nagging absence. Neither Michael Moorcock nor George Martin are mentioned at all, leaving the listener to wonder if they've been deliberately excluded, despite their enormous contributions, for defying the themes of epic fantasy that Tolkien himself found so endearing. This excessive concentration on Tolkien, and the gross omission of two giants, is a bit of a slap, given their influence.
A comparative look at the genre's evolution would have been something to truly enjoy here. He engages in this with the writers included, but with the exception of Donaldson, the rest never pushed the envelope into corners as yet unvisited. Relating to Moorcock and Martin's work would have accomplished this more effectively. How the Ring of Power, whose implications he addresses so well, relates to a weapon like Stormbringer, Elric's treacherous magic sword. How each affected the fates of characters, as well as their authors' respective worlds. How Aragorn compares perhaps, with a character such as Daenerys Targaryen, who like him, is an uncertain yet worthy heir to a dynasty in forced exile. These were the sorts of things I was hoping for. These were the things I really missed.
The portion on magical realism is nothing short of excellent, though why he feels the need to draw sharp distinctions - between it and fantasy in this day and age - is really somewhat puzzling. It speaks to a need to simply reject "dark fantasy" of the epic variety, which comes off very nearly as the kind of literary discrimination he criticizes, in realists like Henry James.
So these lectures are well thought out and presented. If you're mainly into J.R.R. Tolkien.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Mark
- 09-11-11
Brilliant
I cannot oversell the powers of Drout to be able to convey academic information in a very relative way. Drout has cost me money and time because he has been so effective in teaching the importance of the works that he discusses that I have gone out and purchased them. His informative and enthusiastic lectures makes me want to be a student again. This is not the geek speak that I was concerned that it would be. Great analysis of the genre and the works discussed.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Alberto Dominguez
- 07-29-10
Insightful and Entertaining
Prof Drout is both extremely knowledgeable and an excellent lecturer. His enthusiasm for the subject is contagious; it's also very good to hear an audio course where the professor is truly lecturing rather than reading notes or a teleprompter.
Half the course (7 of 14 lectures) is dedicated to Tolkien, but perhaps that's fitting given the way he dominates the literature of the fantastic. However, the other authors who are discussed (Brooks, Donaldson, LeGuin, Holdstock, Lewis) are given good coverage as well. And the discussion of broader topics (what is fantasy, origins of fantastic literature, children’s fantasy, Arthurian fantasy, magical realism) are very interesting and insightful as well.
Highly recommended.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Charles P. Shingledecker
- 05-30-11
Excellent, entertaining and illuminating!
This series of lectures is absolutely amazing! The Professor absolutely LOVES his subject and makes listening to the series a pure joy. I'm a big Fantasy geek, but this series has given me new insight into the genre as well as sparked my interest in books I might not have otherwise read. (Harry Potter) Over half the lectures focus on Tolkien, for good reason. The father of modern fantasy is explored and I learned more about Tolkien and Lord of the Rings in just a week of listening to these lectures than I have in years. He doesn't over analyze Tolkien like some people tend to do, but definitely treats him with the respect he deserves. It's also fun to hear him read some of the poems in Elvish etc... He touches on the Earthsea books and a number of other fantasy books as well. I would like to have heard his take on some books and authors he left out, (The Last Unicorn, the Sword of Truth) however I was more than pleased with this course and will listen to it over and over again. 5 stars for anyone interested in Fantasy!
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3 people found this helpful
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- Doug
- 11-30-12
Good Read But Wanted More
I enjoyed the scholarly view of some of my favorite works by Prof. Drout. I had not listened to a scholar book of this nature before and did not know what to expect but he delivered quite nicely. He takes us from early mythology up through Tolkien and into the modern age of fantasy writers and stories. I only wish it had been a little longer and with a bit more detail in spots.
That being said I do plan on reading Drout's Science Fiction companion to this book, From Here to Infinity: An Exploration of Science Fiction Literature.
Prof Drout was a bit hard to listen to in the beginning but once I caught on to his cadence it made things a bit easier to follow. Listen to the example, some people might be put off just a bit by this.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Robert
- 09-15-12
This is Michael DC Drout's specialty
I think there are about 2000 books in the Modern Scholar Series. Michael DC Drout has about 10 books in the series and I have read / listened to about half of his and a dozen more by other authors. These are generally the series of lectures from a course on a particular subject constructed and delivered by the lecturer who is an eminent authority on the subject being considered. They usually total about 8 hours of listening time.
Michael D.C. Drout is the William and Elsie Prentice Professor of English at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, where he teaches courses in Old and Middle English, medieval literature, Chaucer, fantasy, and science fiction. ‘sounds like the perfect person to be giving lectures on fantasy literature and he is. Because of the nature of the productions, the author is the narrator and that does not always work. It is often said that authors should not read their own books. I have not found that to be the case in any of Professor Drout’s books. He’s not only known for his writing, he’s known for his lecturing and here, it could not be better.
I was surprised but not disappointed that this selection was either about Tolkien or other fantasy literature with respect to Tolkien. I was surprised because the author has a whole other offering just on Tolkien. He considers many of not most of the other major players in the genre who came both before and after JRRT within the construct of compare and contrast. Ever wonder why SiFi is often lumped in with fantasy? Drout explains it all in a deeper than cursory look at the other variations in the genre. Like every other offering by Drout, I could not recommend this selection more highly. His other stuff on English, any and all of it, is outstanding but this is the author’s specialty.
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